The High Court yesterday refused to grant a temporary injunction preventing the revelation of the identity of Top Gear's Stig.

The BBC had taken legal action to block publication by HarperCollins of an autobiography which would unmask the Stig as Bristol racing driver Ben Collins.

It claimed he is bound by a confidentiality agreement and that revealing who he is would spoil viewers' enjoyment of the popular BBC Two programme.

But, after more than a day of legal submissions in private before Mr Justice Morgan in London, lawyers for HarperCollins emerged to say the case had concluded in their favour. Solicitor Robin Shaw said: "The judge has said he is not going to grant an injunction in this case. Reasons are to follow and will be given in a private judgment."

A spokeswoman for the BBC said yesterday's judgment did not prevent it from pursuing the matter to a full trial of the issues.

Racing driver Ben Collins, 35, was born in Southmead, Bristol, and spent the first ten years of his life in California, where his father worked for a distribution company.

His family later settled in the village of Morchard Bishop near Crediton, Devon.

At the age of 18, he launched his driving career in Formula Ford cars at the Stowe circuit, Silverstone, where he clocked up a record time for the circuit on his debut hot lap.

Mr Collins then turned racing into a career and within four years he was leaving the opposition behind in Formula 3, and Sir Jackie Stewart was tipping him as a star of the future.

In 2001, he became the fastest driver for four hours – at night, in the rain – at Le Mans. He also starred in Ascar oval racing, the British version of stock car racing, in 2003, leading every race throughout the season at circuits across Europe, winning six of the 12 competitions, and notching up a record-breaking championship score.

Success continued after his transfer to the FIA British GT series in 2005 and later to the GT3 European Championship with Team Damax.

Mr Collins has helped to fund his career on the track with a glamorous sideline that's seen him rubbing shoulders with Hollywood's A-listers as a stunt car driver.

His company, Collins Autosport, provides precision and stunt driving services – most notably for Top Gear.

Ben was then invited to film sequences for Disney's National Treasure 2 in 2007 and drove in some of the car chase sequences for 2008's James Bond movie Quantum Of Solace.

Mr Collins refused to comment when he briefly returned home to Redland, Bristol, last night to collect some belongings.

He said: ''I can't say anything at the moment. You'll just have to wait for a little bit. I'm sorry.''